Mold clamping device



April 16, 1935. M. GUYOT MOLD CLAMPING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zhwentor -April 16, 1935. M. GUYOT 1,993,316

v MOLD CLAMPING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nnentor Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED'STAT-IES PATENT OFFICE MOLD CLAMPING DEVICE This invention relates broadly to sectional casting molds and more particularly to a section Marius Guyot, Cleveland, Ohio,

assignor to Application July 25, 1932, Serial No. 624,403

6 Claims.

aligning and clamping device for such molds.

In the casting of certain articles in sectional metal molds, it is important that the mold sections be aligned or positioned with a relatively high degree of accuracy. Parts having one or a plurality of projecting fins, such as washing machine agitators, serve as an example of such Molds for such parts may require up to five or more hinged or juxtaposed sections, the fin-casting cavity or cavities being formed beneath or adjacent the juncture line of the seearticles.

tions.

With the aid of known mold-clamping devices as heretofore devised, it has been difiicult in certain casting operations to obtain satisfactory alignment of the mold sections, be they hinged or otherwise associated. Although the sections may, from the exterior, appear to be securely and accurately clamped in place, subsequent examination of the casting ofttimes shows an undesirable variation in cross-sectional thickness of the body or fins of the casting.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved form of clamping device for sectional metal molds which will accurately align the mold sections and securely clamp the latter in aligned position.

Another object is to provide a mold aligning and clamping device which is readily adaptable to metal molds comprising any number of hinged,

sliding or otherwise associated sections.

Another object is'to provide a mold-aligning and clamping device so constructed as to permit the pouring of the molten metal through a single.

pouring sprue.

Further objects include the provision of a device of this character which may be easily and quickly applied and operated, and having parts which are relatively simple in construction and therefore low in cost of manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:--

Figure 1 is a view in plan of a sectional mold showing a preferred form of the improved aligning and clamping device in closed position there- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1 of a modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the lne 44, Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary-sectional view of a slightly modified construction relatively to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 5

Generally stated, the preferred form of device embodying the features of the present invention comprises a clamping plate which is hinged to one of the mold sections and is provided with sectioncentering means such as projecting tapered studs or dowel pins adapted to register in complementary apertures in each of the mold sections, to thereby definitely align the sections and clamp the latter in aligned position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the mold adopted for the purposes of illustration in the drawings is adapted for casting washing machine agitators and in the present instance is made up of four complementary sections 5, 6, l and 8 which are supported on a base 9, the sections 5 and I being hinged to each other and also anchored to the base 9 at H, the pivot pin ll being fixed to the base and the sections 6 and I being movable in a horizontal plane about the pivot pin, and the sections 5 and 8 being hinged to the sections 6 and I at l0 and I2, respectively, the pivot pins at l0 and I2 being free from the base. The device to be cast, or the agitator in this instance would have four fins which project upwardly from a substantially conical base,-the latter at its central portion projecting upwardly in the form of a hollow column. The sections 5 and 8 are adapted to first swing back about the pivot pins at I0 and I2 followed by the sections 6 and 1 which swing about the pivot pin fixed to the base at H to clear the casting and the fins formed thereon, there being a fin formed beneath each line of jointure of the sections. Each section is extended upwardly in the form of a segmental neck portion to define the walls of the gate or sprue A andterminates in an outwardly flaring top portion 5a,.6a, Ia and 8a. The. sections at the base of the mold are adapted to be latched in closed position by a latch or link l3 connected to the sections 5 and 8 and controlled by a handle I4 provided with a cam Ma.

The preferred embodiment of the present in-, vention comprises a top plate 15, which may be hinged to the top of any one of the sections, in the present instance, the hinging section being thesection 5, the top 5a of which is formed with a bearing lug I6 which receives a hinge pin H, the latter extending through ears or lugs l8 formed on the plate IS. The plate I5 is formed with a pouring opening a, which registers with the gate or sprue A, the side walls of the opening a being tapered to prevent the casting metal forming a lock, in the event solidification should take place within said opening. The top of each section is formed with a tapered aperture or bore l9, which may be reinforced by a bushing or insert 20 of hardened metal or like material, if desired, and the plate I! is provided with a set of tapered indexing or centering pins 2| adapted to engage or register in the apertures 20. The device is provided with clamping and latching mechanism comprising, as here shown, a latch member or link 22, which is hinged or pivoted at 23 to the top portion 1a of the section I and engages in a latch plate 24 secured to the plate I5. The latch or link 22 is provided with a clamp handle 25 formed with a cam head 26.

The operation of the device will be apparent. The mold sections may first be brought into approximate or rough alignment, whereupon the plate I 5 is swung down, bringing the tapered pins 2| into registration with the apertures l9. The latch 22 is then engaged in the latch plate 24 and the clamp 25, 26 applied, to drive the pins 2| home and force the mold sections into an accurate, definitely aligned position and latch said sections in such position.

The device may be adapted to molds having any number of sections by simply locating the positioning pins 2| in their proper relation, or each plate l5 may be provided with sets of sockets with each set applicable to a particular multipart mold. The parts are rugged, simple in construction, and easily manufactured. I

In Figs. 3 and 4,a modified form of clamping device is shown in which the clamp ring |5a is formed with a tapered clamping surface 30 and the top portions of the mold sections are formed with co-acting tapered or conical segmental projections 3|. When the ring is swung down in clamping position, it engages the tapered segments and accurately positions the mold sections.

The form shown in Fig. 5 is substantially similar to the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the difference residing in a reversal of the arrangement of the centering pins. The centering bores in this instance are formed in the ring l5 and are indicated at la, and the centering pins are fixed to or formed integral with the top portions of the mold sections and are indicated at 2 la.

It will be noted that the particular construction of the improved clamping and aligning device in co-operative relation with the mold sections having the segmental neck portions permits pouring of the molten metal through a single pouring sprue.

It will be understood that certain structural variations and omission or addition of parts may be adopted within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In combination, a metal mold comprising a plurality of juxtaposed sections each of which is provided with a top portion having a tapered aperture therein, and a section positioning and clamping device for said mold comprising a clamping plate hinged to one of said sections and provided with a set of tapered projecting studs adapted to register with said apertures and a clamp for forcing said plate against said top portions.

2. In combination, a metal mold comprising a plurality of juxtaposed sections, each of said sections being formed with an apertured segment, said segments, when the mold sections are in approximate olosed relation forming a surface portion having an aperture therein for each mold section, a clamp plate hinged to one of said segments and provided with a set of projecting tapered studs adapted to register with the apertures in the said segments, and a clamping device pivotally connected to another of said segments and adapted to clamp said plate against said apertured surface portion and definitely align the mold sections.

3. In combination, a metal mold comprising a plurality of juxtaposed sections each of which is provided with a segmental neck formed with a tapered top segmental projection, said necks when moved together defining a central pouring sprue, a clamp ring hinged to one of said neck portions and formed with an opening having tapered side walls adapted to engage said segmental tapered top projections when the ring is moved into clamping position and accurately center and align said sections.

4. In combination, a metal mold comprising a plurality of juxtaposed mold sections each of which is formed with a segmental neck extension which extensions when the sections are moved together define a central pouring sprue, a clamp member hinged to one of said extensions, the tops of said extensions and the clamp member being formed with co-acting tapered male and female portions adapted to register when the clamp member is moved into clamping position and accurately center and align said sections.

5. A metal mold comprising, in combination, a base, a plurality of mold sections pivoted to each other and to said base and adapted to be moved together over said base to define with the base a casting cavity, a projection on each of said sections arranged to fit together and each of said projections being recessed so that said projections together define a pouring sprue opening into the casting cavity and a clamping plate having wedging portions adapted to engage each of said projections to center and align said projections and clamp the same together, said clamping plate having an aperture therein in alignment with and forming a continuation of the pouring sprue.

6. In combination, a metal mold comprising a plurality of juxtaposed sections each of which is provided with a segmental neck formed with tapered top projections, said necks when moved together defining a central pouring sprue, a clamp member hinged to one of said neck portions and provided with means having tapered side walls adapted to engage said tapered top projections, when the clamp member is moved into clamping position, and to accurately center and align said sections.

MARIUS GUYOT. 

